Elon Musk has alleged that Starlink’s entry into India is being blocked by unnamed oligarchs seeking to protect their alleged monopolistic hold over consumers, adding a fresh confrontation to the satellite internet company’s pending regulatory process.
“Unfortunately, we are being blocked by certain oligarchs in order to maintain their monopolistic chokehold on the Indian people. You can guess who they are …,” Musk said in a post on X. He did not identify any individual or company. Musk called the alleged obstruction “a crime against the people of India.”
The comments come shortly after Starlink renewed its application to operate in India. Economic Times reported on August 20 that the company had resubmitted an application to the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre, or IN-SPACe, seeking authorisation for its Gen 2 satellite constellation.
The application covers a low Earth orbit constellation operating at an altitude of 340 to 615 km, with newer capabilities including direct-to-device connectivity, according to people aware of the details cited in the report. Starlink’s earlier application for a proposed 30,000-satellite constellation had been rejected by IN-SPACe over non-conformity relating to certain features and spectrum bands.
IN-SPACe later authorised Starlink’s Gen 1 constellation, comprising 4,408 satellites, in July 2025. The company’s current application seeks approval for nearly 30,000 satellites, while SpaceX has global plans for a Gen 2 constellation of about 42,000 satellites.
Starlink’s India launch remains subject to several regulatory and operational steps. Satellite operators need IN-SPACe authorisation before beginning services, while security clearances and spectrum allocation remain among the issues being worked through. Commercial satellite services by non-geostationary satellite operators have not yet begun in India, the report said.
The spectrum question is particularly significant because satellite broadband will rely on access to scarce radio frequencies that are also central to the country’s wider communications infrastructure. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has issued recommendations on pricing for satellite spectrum, but the government has yet to take a final decision.
Trai is also examining direct-to-device services, which could allow satellite networks to supplement mobile connectivity by linking directly to consumer devices. Traditional telecom operators have argued that satellite companies offering such services should face comparable regulatory obligations, making D2D rules a sensitive part of the market’s development.
Starlink is seeking a share of India’s emerging satellite communications market alongside Reliance Jio’s proposed low Earth orbit constellation, Amazon Leo and Eutelsat OneWeb. Starlink has also been building 20 gateway sites in India and has said user data will remain within the country.
The next steps for the company will depend on the processing of its Gen 2 application, security clearances, the government’s decision on satellite spectrum allocation and the regulatory framework for direct-to-device connectivity.
